Letter to B. Corker ..From Rick Duty.. <'TK><
T.K.,
Attached, and cut ’n pasted below, is my reply to an email I received from Senator Corker’s office. While the Senator’s reply (at the bottom) isn’t exactly boiler plate, it does reflect an air of detachment from the very real probability that this is being rammed home as an end-run around civil authority, and with total disregard to the local economy. I would bet that most of the legislators we have communicated with have been lulled into a sense of ‘business-as-usual’ by USACE , and are being assured there are more important things on their agenda. We have to respect the Army’s well refined and often practiced art of deception. Maybe this is the week for phone calls to our respective legislator’s offices...
The Honorable Bob Corker
185 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
January, 29, 2013
Re: Your reply – USACE River Restrictions
Dear Senator Corker,
With the utmost respect due you and your staff’s work load, we who are closer to the waters in question have a very different perspective and sense of urgency regarding the Army’s “proposal”. Only after Senator Alexander’s November 2012 letter to the Corps regarding the issue, were public meetings even considered. The decision to deepen the existing restrictions was succinctly summed up by the following:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District is currently in the process of finalizing a plan to restrict boat access to hazardous waters directly upstream and downstream of all hydroelectric power plant facilities along the Cumberland River and its tributaries. When the implementation plan is finalized, the Corps will release the information to the public.
Lee Roberts
Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Nashville District
Well after the local Corps commander understood the intent and spirit of Senator Alexander’s letter, on December 13, 2012, Lt. Col James DeLapp made the following statement in a media conference call: “This is simply implementation of a rule already in place. There is not a need for public comment. That being said, however, we look forward to hearing what the public has to say...” Indeed, in every public meeting held since Col. DeLapp’s comment, Corps personnel have consistently presented the overt implication that this is a done-deal, and nothing short of congressional intervention will prevent implementation.
In the aforementioned media conference call, Lt. Col DeLapp said, “Total cost for putting the program in place will be about $2 Million.” There have been signs and other hardware purchased, in excess of $250,000 and readied for installation; all prior to any public discussion.
Senator Rand Paul has expressed his sense of urgency in the speed at which Col. DeLapp is moving toward implementation. In a letter to General Thomas Bostick, Commanding General and Chief of Engineers, dated January 25, 2013, Senator Paul has asked for an explanatory reply by February 1, 2013.
While personally participating in one of the relevant public meetings, Kentucky Congressman Ed Whitfield expressed his concern over the Corps’ rush to completion, their very apparent lack of concern for civil input, and the potential litigious outcome of ignoring that input.
Public communiqués by USACE regarding the rationale for their action has been flimsy, evasive, and outright deceptive, in grossly overstating the safety incidents. In fact, 6 of the 10 dams in question have had zero fatalities in the tail-waters since record keeping began, 43 years ago.
Perhaps it is the arrogance in presenting the message, or the matter-of-fact delivery by Corps personnel, but resentment to the autonomous, autocratic military threat to the local economy, and the usurpation of civil authority, runs almost as deep as the potential loss of public access.
We do hope that you or/and your staff are up-to-speed on this rapidly moving situation. This is well beyond boating and fishing. This is about the Tennessee outdoor lifestyle that attracts so many families to visit, or to relocate here. Please consider my own migration from northern Illinois to be among those. To chase the passion in Tennessee, there is the investment of the home, the boat, the truck, the gear, and the endless cycle of supporting the local economy, simply by being here. Without the nationwide airing of a T.V. program featuring a Celina Tennessee guide in the tailrace of Cordell Hull Dam, I would never have come for the very first visit in 2002.
Most sincerely,
Richard (Rick) Duty
Gallatin, Tennessee
From:senator@corker.senate.gov
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 11:13 AM
To:raduty
Subject: Responding to your message
Dear Richard,
Thank you for taking the time to contact my office to share your concerns about the Army Corps of Engineers limiting access to fishing near dams on the Cumberland River. Your opinion is important to me, and I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts.
I understand the importance of fishing to many Tennesseans and I am a strong proponent of providing broad access to fishing areas when possible. As you know, the Army Corps of Engineers has not yet released its final proposal for possible access restrictions. My staff and I will continue to monitor the situation and when the final rule is released I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind as we move forward.
Thank you again for your letter. I hope you will continue to share your thoughts with me.
Sincerely,
Bob Corker
United States Senator
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